Window regulator mechanism



March 13,1945. V J. B. PARSONS 7 2,371,183

WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Fil'ed March l0 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 10, 1944 INVENTOR. JcS hfl B-paraen/a.

BY- I seat:

Patented Mar. 13, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,371,183 *wmnow' aacuwroa MECHANISM John 1;. Parsons, Toledo, Ohio A plication March 10, 1944, Serial No. 525,879 Claims. (a. 268-125) T This invention relates to regulator mechanism for vehicle windows or other rectilinearly movable members, but more particularly to windows of automobile bodies which are mounted for sliding movement to cover or uncover a window opening, and an object is to produce a mechanism of thischaracter which is sturdy and reliable in construction and operation, has a relatively small number of moving parts, can be in:-

- expensively manufactured on a production basis and which can be built'in the form of a unit so as materially to reduce the time and labor required for installation purposes.

Another object. is to produce a window regu lator mechanism comprising essentially a pair or pivotfi connected bell crank levers which are so mounted and arranged that conjoint move.-

ment thereof can be readily windowmovement.

A further object is to produce a regulator for eii'ected to impart vehicle windows comprising essentially a pair oi pivotally connected swinging bell crank levers actuated by a rectilinearly reciprocating member, the leverage system cooperating with an helical coil spring.

A still'further object is to produce a window regulator mechanism of the above character which requires a minimum. amount (if space in one dimension, thereby adapting it'particularly for certain installations or vehicle bodies and enpair of pivotallyconnected swinging bell crank levers actuated by a rectilinearly reciprocating member driven by power means either in the form of an hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly or an electrically operated mechanism, the arrangement being such that the regulator mechanism can be rendered eflective by actuation in one di motion or the other by remote control means.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration but not or limitation, an embodiment of the invention I is shown on the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view in perspective oi the inside of a limousine body showing in dot- Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation 01 the regulator mechanism;

Fi ure 3 isa top plan view of the parts shown,

inFigure 2; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation similar to Figure 2, but embodying electrical mechanism for efiecting swinging movement of the bell crank arms in one direction or the other.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention according to Figures 1 to 3 comprises a window regulator generally indicated at W for raising and lowering the partition glass or window G interin the wall P, in the lower portion of which is a recess or cavity 0 providing a'ioot rest for the occupants of the rear seat. This construction is such that the space for mounting the regulator mechanism is considerably restricted particularly when the extent of the window travel is considered. The window glas's G is guided for its up and down movements by U-shaped guide strips 8 suitably mounted to engage the side edge portions of the window. Embracing the lower edge po'rtion of the window G is a channel H to which are secured depending retainers J and J, each formed with longitudinally elongate slots. to receive the headed rivets or studs I 0 and ii respectively. The studs It and ii project laterally from the free end portions of swinging arms 12 and I3 respectively. The arms I2 and it are relatively long and extend inclinedly in opposite directionsand each forms one arm oi. a bell crank lever. It will be observed that the swinging arm l2 has an integral right angle extension It at its end and the arm 13 has a right angle extension ii at its inner end, the extensions i l and it'projecting in opposite directions. That is, when the window glass is in its lowered or open position, the extension l4 inclines downwardly and the extension to inclines upwardly. The apices of the two bell crank levers are pivotally connected by a rivet It. It will be observed particularly from an inspection of Figure 3 that the arms i2 and it of the bell cranks are slightly oiiset and incline outwardly away from the pivotal mounting i6.-

ted lines the regulator mechanism for raisin and lowering the partition glass or window be-- tween the back-seat and theiront or driver's The free end of the extension [5 is pivotally connected at I'I to a horizontally disposed frame arm l8, the outer end oi which is spot welded to cross arm I 9. The inner end portion of the frame arm i8 is fixed to a suitable support on the automobilegbody by a bracket l8 and the cross arm I! is also suitably tlsed to a part of the automobile body by angle brackets IS. The opposite end of the cross arm 19 is pivoted at 20 to a horizontally disposed frame arm 2|. The free end of the extension II is pivoted at 22 to the inner end portion of the frame arm 2|.

From the above description, it will be understood that swinging movement of the arms l2 and I3 which through studs engage the retainers, imparts upward or downward movement to the window glass G. During such movement or the movement from the full line position .in Figure 2 to the broken line position, the pivotal connection between the bell cranks (rivet it) has substantially horizontal translatory movement between the frame arms "3 and 2|. Thus the pivot l6 moves from the full line position shown in Figure 2 outwardly or to the left to the broken line porangeznent is of importance because in following through with the swinging movement of the arms sition when the window glass G is in its fully raised or closed position. At the same time that the pivot point it moves in the above-manner.

the frame arm ii is enabled to rock about its pivot 20 to accommodate the toggle-like or spreading movement of the bell crank extensions i ll and Ill.

In this instance, power means is provided for imparting movement to the swinging arms and, as shown, a piston rod 23 is pivotally connected by a river, id to an. intermediate portion of the extension arm We. 1 The rod 23 is substantially horizontally disposed and has a piston (not shown) operating within a cylinder 26. The cylinder 25 has a bracket Eli which pivotally connects to an arm it near one end thereof, such end being pivsince such specific structure forms no. part oi the present invention. Reference, however, is made to my Patent No. 2,346,387, dated April 11, 1944, entitled "Hydraulic regulator system," wherein complete illustration and description thereof is givenu It is clear that other mechanism can be used insubstitution for the hydraulic arrangement, such, for example, as a manually operated bar actuated in any suitable manner, such as by racl: and pinion.

Spring means is provided in association with the regulator mechanism for assisting in the movement of the window glass G. Thus the spring assisted by the weight oi the window glass 61- may assist in actuating the window glass downwardly or to its open position. The spring is so arranged and connected that it imposes a substantially uniform tension on window-engaging ends of the bell cranks throughout their swinging movement, this being of particular advantage in thatthe window moves smoothly free from jerks.

As shown, a link fill is connected to the extension am it between the pivot points It and 22 but slightly nearer the pivot point 22 and extends in a generally horizontal direction. Connected to the outer end of the link it is a helical coil spring M, t e pposite end of which is hooked into an aperture 32 in the arm 25. It will be noted that in the position of the parts shown byfull lines in Figure 2, with the window in its open position, the coil spring 3| inclines from the arm 26 slightly downwardly to the extension arm It. This armovement.

Not only does the spring function in this manner but it so provldesa cushion for any expansion oi the liquid within the hydraulic cylinder 24.

In the event the liquid should expand with the window G in its fully raised or closed position,

then the cylinder 24 may be forced to the right of Figure 2, thereby rocking the arm 26 in a counterclockwise direction against'the tension of the spring 3|.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have provided an exceedingly simple and compact regulator mechanism which can be installed in an automobile body where space is very.

limited. It'wlll particularly be observed that gears and other parts which are comparatively costly and which are ordinarily employed in regulators of this character, are eliminated. It is thus possible materially to reduce not only the cost of manufacture but of installation, inasmuch as the regulator is a unitary assembly and as shown, requires only three points of connection to the supporting structure.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 3 is similar to that above described, except that the swinging arms are actuated in one direction or the other by an electric motor instead of an hydraulic piston and coil spring arrangement. As shown, similar horizontally disposed frame arms We and 2m are secured to a cross arm its, the former side arm being fixed to the cross arm and the latter side arm being pivotally secured to the cross arm at 20a. The swinging bell crank arms Ma and its are connected to Eli the side arms, to each other and to the retainers depending from the window glass G similar to the arrangement above described. It is not believed that further description thereof is deemed necessary to a complete understanding or the structure shown on this figure.

In this instance, a screw-threaded nut or sleeve All] is plvotally connected to an intermediate portlon of the shorter arm of the bell crank No. A horizontally disposed rod ll has a screwthreaded end portion 42 which threacedlyengages the pivoted sleeve Id. The opposite end of the rod M projects into a cylindrical housing it and is operatively connected to suitable'plane-- tary gearing indicated at M arranged within the cylinder. Manifestly any suitable reduction gearing may be employed for the purpose, planetary gearing being selected because of the space requirements. Arranged within the cylinder 43 is asultableelectric motor as, the armature of which is cperatively connected to drive the gear-' log N in such manner that the rod 4| rotates at a speed less than the speed of the motor armature. It will be manifest that upon rotation of the electric motor I! inone'dlrection, the sleeve to will be caused to move in one direction relative to the rodlll, thereby to swing the bell cranks I2a and 13a in one direction and upon rotatlon of the motor 45 in the opposite direction, the

sleeve 40 will be moved along the rod ll in an as-n ss The cylinder 43 has a laterally or horizontally extending arm 48 to which is pivotally connected a bracket arm 41 similar to the arm 28 above described, the arm 41 being pivoted at ll to the frame arm "a. The opposite end portion of the arm 41 is engagedby a pair of C-shaped springs l8 and III which'are secured to the frame bar 2 la. As shown, these springs engage respectively opposite sides of the bracket arm 41 and normally hold the arm in a predetermined position. The bracket arm. 41 projects downwardly beyond the adjacent side bar 2m; and this end portion is equipped with a pair of electrical contact members ill and 52 which are connected to the electric motor 45 by leads 53 and 54 respectively. As shown, theelectric motor is suitably grounded by a lead I5.

Suitably fixed to the side frame bar Ma and depending therefrom is a mounting plate It and carried by the plate 56 are spring contact memdirection, the electric motor 15 is energized to rotate the shaft or rod II in one direction and actuation of the switch Ii in the opposite direction energizes the motor to rotate the shaft II in the opposite direction. By rocking the switch 8! into contact with the lead it, current will flow from the battery 63 through the lead 62, the switch Bl to .theJead i0 and then through the contact arm 58, contact member ii and through the lead 53 to the motor I! and thence to ground through the lead 55. This causes rotation of the motor in one direction and manifestly by rocking the switch 6| into contact with the lead 59, rotation of the motor in the opposite direction will be effected through the connections above described.

In the event that the window glass G encounters an excessive force or a force in excess of that exerted by the 6 springs 49 and '50, in its movement in one direction or the other, it will be manifest that the bracket arm 46 will rock in one direction or the other to move one of the contact members 5i and 52 away from the adjacent spring arm, thereby to break the electrical circuit and deenergize the electric motor 45.

Thus the obstruction to the movement of the window glass G must be removed before further movement thereof can be effected. Thus it will be necessary first to rock the switch" in anopposite direction to cause opposite movement of the window glass before the bracket arm "will be restoredto its normal position determined by the c springs 49 and 50. This militates against spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

. What I claim is:

1. Window regulator mechanism comprising a pair of bell crank levers, each lever having a relatively short arm and a relatively long arm, means on the free ends of the long arms of said levers engageable with the vehicle window, a pivotal connection between said levers, a frame including a fixed arm to which one of said short/arms is pivoted and a movable arm to which the other short arm is pivoted, means providing a connection between. said frame arms, operating means claim 1 in which said operating means comprises an lmdraulic cylinder connected to said frame connecting means and a piston rod reciprocable in said cylinder connected to the short arm of one lever, and in which said retracting spring means comprises a helical coil spring connected re p ctively to the short arm of the other lever and to the connecting means between the frame arms.

4. Window regulator mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which the bell crank levers are pivoted together at their angular portions and the frame is arranged at substantially right angles to the plane of window movement.

5. Window regulator mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which the operating means includes a rectilinearly shiftable member movable in a plane at substantially ri ht angles to the plane of win- I dow movement.

a. Window regulator mechanism comprising a pair of bell crank levers, each lever having a relatively short arm and a relatively long arm,

means on the free ends of the long arms of said 4o levers engageable with the vehicle window, a pivotal connection between said levers, a frame in cluding a fixed arm to which one of said short arms is pivoted and a movable arm to which the other short arm is pivoted, means providing a connection between said frame arms, operating means including an elongate rod engaging a short armor one lever, and power means for operating said rod thereby to impart swinging movement to said levers.

7. Window regulator mechanism comprising a pair of bell crank levers, each lever having a relatively short arm and a relatively long arm, means on the free ends of the long arms of said levers engageablewith the vehicle window, a pivotal connection between said levers, a frame including a fixed arm to which one of said short arms is pivoted'and a movable arm to which the other short arm is pivoted, means providing a connection between said frame arms, operating means including a rotatable rod having a screw-threaded end portion, a screw-threaded sleeve on a short arm of one lever engaging the screw-threaded rod portion, and power means for rotating said rod in one direction or the other thereby to swing said lever's in one direction or the other.

8. Window regulator mechanism as claimed in claim "I in'which the power means comprises a reversible electric motor.

9. Window regulator mechanism as claimed in claim 7 in which said power means comprises a reversible electric motor, and means for deenersizing said motor in the event said arms-encounter an excessive force or obstruction.

10. Window regulator mechanism comprising a I pair of. hell crank levers, each lever having a relatively short arm and a relatively long arm,

fixed pivotal mounting, operating means including an elongate rod engaging a short arm of one levers engageable with the vehicle window, a lever, and power means for operating said rod pivotal connection between said levers, a fixed thereby to impart swinging movement to said pivotal mounting for one 01 said short arms; a. 5 levers. pivotal'mounting for the other short arm en- JOHN B. PARSONS. abling movement toward and away from said a means on the free ends of the long arms of said 

